January 2013, Conakry, Republic of Guinea – In the framework of the project “Developing an Integrated National Programme for the Sound Management of Chemicals and SAICM Implementation in the Republic of Guinea,” the Final National SAICM Project Workshop was held from 24 to 25 January 2013 with the participation of UNITAR and some 45 participants from public and private sectors, civil society, and academia.

The objectives of the workshop were to raise awareness about the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) and its national implementation, to review and endorse the National SAICM Implementation Plan and associated future partnership projects, and documents related to the strengthening of the national governance structure (in particular the Terms of Reference for an Interministerial Coordination Mechanism, Terms of Reference for an information exchange mechanism and a National Stakeholder Involvement Plan), and to close the project while planning for future follow-up initiatives. The implementation of the Globally Harmonized System of Classification and Labelling of Chemicals (GHS) and the establishment of a Poisons Information Centre were chosen as the priorities for follow-up activities to strengthen capacity to implement SAICM in the Republic of Guinea.

The Final National SAICM Project Workshop was hosted by the Ministry of Environment, Waters and Forests of the Republic of Guinea, with technical support provided by UNITAR, and financial support provided by SAICM’s Quick Start Programme Trust Fund.